Food Waste Container - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Find the answer to your questions about your food waste container

How do I get more compostable caddy liners?

You can pick up your free roll of compostable liners from your local library or the following Community Centres; Strouden, Howe Croft, Moordown and Ensbury Park but please check opening times before visiting. Just take proof of address with you (a household bill, driving licence or bank statement).

Why have you put an orange and white sticker on my food waste container?

We’ll put an orange and white sticker on your container lid if you’ve put something in there that we can’t compost.

What can I do if my container is missing after collection?

Check with your neighbours to see if they've been left your bin by mistake. It’s helpful if you can write the house number on your food waste container before putting it out.

If you still can’t find your container, please get in touch with us and request a replacement food waste container. Please note the replacement for the outside food waste container is a 23L food waste container and not the 12L insert.

What if my bin isn’t emptied?

If your bin hasn’t been emptied on the correct bin day, please wait till the end of the day as our crews are still out working until then. If your bin still hasn’t been emptied by the next day you can report it.

What if I need help getting my bin out?

If you’re elderly or have a disability and don’t have anyone to help you put your bin out, we’ll try to help. Please give us a call and we’ll see what we can do.

What if I compost at home already?

If you are already composting at home, please keep doing it.

Home composting is the best way to deal with uncooked leftovers, such as fruit and vegetable peelings.

But you can put things like meat, fish, bones, cooked food and dairy products in your food waste container, which you shouldn’t put in your compost at home.

What happens to my food waste?

We take food waste to Eco Sustainable Solutions in Dorset. Here it’s treated by Anaerobic Digestion (AD) where food is broken down by micro-organisms. The gases given off during the process can be used to produce electricity and, at the end of the process, a high quality liquid compost is left ready for use as soil improver.